It all began a couple of months ago. I went to a wedding and I had my share of excess of food and drinks (although I did not get drunk) and dancing too. I partied until 3:00 am and everything was OK until next day at around noon when I went to the bathroom. I vomited, had diahrrea, and a bad share of nausea and “stomach” discomfort.
I thought it was just the excess food and alcohol so I though it will go away, but the discomfort did not go away and continued the following days. It was not pain. It was just discomfort on the chest area, something to do with the digestive system. I went on a simple diet, trying not to eat too much. After a week the discomfort went and came so I decided to go to the doctor.
I explained to him what was going on. He did his check up and thought I had acid indigestion, involving an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. He, however, ordered an abdominal ultrasonography and blood tests (the usual stuff, blood and urine analyses including red blood count, and especially hepatic enzyme analyses which was kind of strange to me, but hey HE is the doctor!)
So I asked for an appointment at the hospital for the ultrasonography and I had it. I asked the ultrasonography doctor how was everything and he said: “everything is fine, except (and that is when I panicked) your liver has a little bit of fat.” I inquired more and he said well, it happens to most people but you need to discuss it with your doctor. “your obesity may have something (a lot he believed) to do with your condition”
What condition? I asked. You have steatosis hepatitis.
What is that? He answered: “you have esteatosis hepatitis, commonly known as fatty liver. But let’s wait until I give your report and bring it to your doctor. He will counsel you”
A couple of days went by and I went to the doctor again, with the report on hand which I had received the day before. The conclusion was esteatosis hepatitis grade II (?)
After studying the report and lab test the doctor finally talked to me. He mentioned that I have esteatosis hepatitis grade II which is commonly known as fatty liver. He explained that is a common hepatic condition. That usually goes undiscovered since in many individual is asymptomatic (no symptoms). It is usually discovered incidentally because of abnormal function of the liver (or tests). He said that “this disease occurs worldwide and usually associated with excessive alcohol intake and obese people”. Since I am no heavy drinker, my obesity may be the cause.
He also said that steatosis hepatitis is a recently discovered disease (around 1980). The steatosis hepatitis is related to a problem with my fat metabolism. The pathogenesis of steatosis hepatitis is the consequence of a fat metabolism imbalance. It may be an imbalance in energy consumption and its combustion that results in fast being stored as adipose tissue in and around the liver. Also, he continued, it could be the result of a peripheral resistance to insulin (metabolic syndrome).
The good news is that all my lab tests (cholesterol, good and bad,) triglycerides, hepatic enzymes levels, etc are all Normal. SO he believes my fatty liver may be reversible with the appropriate measures taken.
It is essential to lose weight for my steatosis hepatitis , but slowly. Fast weight loss is worse for the fatty liver disease. He said I need to lose some 40 pounds. (wow that is a lot to lose!). Then I need to change may food habits. Reduce (almost eliminate) fat consumption and incorporate proteins (I need to go to a nutrition specialist for a better advise on nutrition).
I will need to incorporate exercise in my life since I am of the sedentary kind of person. At least 30 min a day of walking. Also, I need to take antioxidants, mainly vitamin E and selenium to protect my liver.
I now know I have been diagnosed with steatosis hepatitis, what it is and how to deal with it. I know a little bit more about steatosis hepatitis so I hope it helps me take care of it. I also caution everybody who reads this article to be aware of steatosis hepatitis since it is asymptomatic and it happens to about 25% of people worldwide. If not discovered it can lead to cirrhosis and then to cancer of the liver.
